Despite a government-led national dialogue in 2016, violence in Sudan persists in Darfur and elsewhere. Peace talks between the government and the armed opposition are deadlocked, while hundreds of thousands of displaced people are blocked from getting humanitarian aid. For over 20 years, the U.S. Institute of Peace has worked to build an inclusive peace in Sudan through expert advice and training. The Institute currently hosts youth leaders who conduct research on peace in their communities. USIP also supports a regional database of laws on sexual and gender-based violence.

Following protests that started at the end of 2018/early 2019, the three-decade rule of Omar al-Bashir came to an end in April 2019. A transitional government was put in place with the signature of the Juba Peace Agreement in October 2020 – perceived as creating momentum towards stability in the country and renewed international engagement in Sudan – and with democratic elections scheduled to take place at the end of 2022 for the first time in nearly 30 years. However, in October 2021 the military have taken again full control of the government. In retaliation, civilians have organized pro-democracy demonstrations against the military junta. Months after the coup, these widespread protests still continu